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Local MP Lynne Featherstone yesterday held a conference on ‘Working Together to End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM.)’

The conference, which took place at Hornsey School for Girls, was attended by over 100 health, social care, education, police and community professionals from across north London.

The conference was opened by Lynne Featherstone MP, and included speeches from campaigners Nimco Ali and Alimatu Dimonekene. During the opening session, students from Hornsey School for Girls presented a dramatic piece.

Throughout the day, the attendees were split into smaller groups. They discussed the work already being done to end FGM, and how the different sectors could work together to spot warning signs and protect girls.

While a minister at the Department for International Development, Lynne Featherstone announced a £35 million programme to support the African-led movement for change. As Minister of State for Crime Prevention, the Lib Dem MP recently announced that frontline professionals will have a mandatory duty to report cases of FGM.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“FGM is an unacceptable practice. In a truly fair society, where everyone has equal opportunity to get on, FGM would not happen. That’s why we have to keep working together and raising awareness until the day when no girl is at risk of FGM.

“Thanks to brave campaigners like Nimco and Alimatu, ending FGM is now very much on the agenda. As a Minister for Development and now Crime Prevention, I have worked with them and my team in Government to launch a £35 million programme to support the movement to end FGM, and more recently, to announce mandatory reporting.

“And of course, I want to tackle FGM and protect girls locally, too. That’s why I put together the conference – and it was fantastic to see professionals from across North London come together to discuss how to work together to prevent FGM.

“I’d like to thank all the speakers, those who helped organise, and particularly to Hornsey School for Girls for hosting the conference – it was a great success, and hopefully the first of many!”

Here’s an email I sent to my constituents yesterday. If you live in Hornsey and Wood Green – please do fill in the survey!

It’s almost twenty years since I first got involved in local politics here in Haringey. I joined a residents’ group and we protested against an unpopular parking scheme being imposed on us by the Council.We were successful – and it showed how a small group of determined people could make changes, benefitting a huge number of residents. After this, I became a local councillor and then MP for our area.I believe in a fairer society – it’s what I work for day in, day out – in Haringey and in Parliament.That’s why, along with local residents, I launch campaigns to protect and improve our local services: like hospitals, libraries, stations, parcel collection points, bus stops, police front counters and more.It’s also why my local team and I worked so hard to secure fairer education funding for Haringey – and now we’re pushing for fairer funding for our health services too.Creating a strong economy is also important, to support our public services. That’s why my party took the difficult decision to enter into coalition in 2010 – to be part of a stable Government, capable of rebuilding the economy.Now, both the deficit and unemployment are down. Youth unemployment here has halved – giving so many more young people a better opportunity to get on in life. But there is still work to be done.I am standing again to be the MP for our local area at the General Election in May this year. Do I have your support? You can let me know who you’re supporting by replying to this email, or filling in this survey.In the survey, you can also let me know of any issues or problems you’d like to raise with me. I’ll get back to you asap.Thank you, and Happy New Year,Lynne FeatherstoneLiberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green

Lynne Featherstone MP has been nominated for ‘MP of the Year’ award. The awards are being hosted by the Patchwork Foundation, in association with 3FF, Mosaic, UpRising and The National Union of Students.

The Patchwork Foundation believes in promoting and highlighting best practice in the area of under-represented, deprived and minority community engagement. The society rewards MPs who work closely with such communities and deliver excellent representation and coverage to otherwise underrepresented segments of society, by acknowledging them as ‘MP of the Year.’

The ceremony will take place on Wednesday 5th November.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green has also been nominated for the ‘Politician of the Year’ award by Stonewall, for her work on equalities.

The Liberal Democrat MP was nominated by one of her constituents, who said:

“Lynne has worked hard to help minority groups. She has pushed hard for better NHS funding and support to help those who are deprived and rely on the NHS services more than most. She always shown support for the BME community and recognises the vital role BME communities play in the UK and that they need to be supported further.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It’s such an honour to be nominated for this award by one of my constituents – I’d like to thank them for taking the time to put me forward.

“I am lucky enough to represent a very diverse area of London – with over 180 languages spoken in my constituency alone. I do my best to meet as many of the local communities as possible, to see if there are any issues I can help with. I also keep them informed about my work as an international development minister, and the many visits I make to Africa.”

Lynne Featherstone MP has met with Circle 33’s Managing Director for an update on the ongoing problems with social housing at New River Village.

Residents at the Colorado apartments remain unhappy with living conditions, reporting ongoing damp and problems with the lift and roof.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green brought the issue to light last year, with a video showing the extent of the problem. Some repairs have been made and many residents have been relocated, but the situation remains unacceptable for the remaining residents.

Circle 33 have been involved in ongoing discussions with developers St James, as studies have now revealed problems with the way the apartments were built by the developers.

Circle 33 hope to reach an agreement with St James about how to make, and fund, the complete repairs as soon as possible and to minimise disruption to residents.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I have long raised concerns about the quality of development of the Colorado apartments. Residents have suffered for years with leaks, damp and broken lifts and doors.

“Circle have reacted to the problems and have relocated residents – but it seems that more substantial repairs are needed to the building itself.

“If the problems do lie in the way the building was built, St James must act without delay to rectify them – even if that does mean stripping everything back and rebuilding. I won’t let this issue drop – and will carry on pushing for better living standards for my constituents.”

Eighteen companies, with hundreds of vacancies between them, have signed up to attend Lynne Featherstone MP’s annual apprenticeship event.

The event – which takes place at 2pm, on Thursday 28th August, at Haringey Civic Centre – gives young people the chance to meet with companies who are offering apprenticeships, and get advice about making applications.

Barclays and the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation are confirmed, alongside the National Apprenticeship Service and companies like Hawk training.

The event, which is backed by Wood Green Jobcentre Plus, is open to all young people – not just Haringey residents. Last year, one young person was taken on the day after the event.

The event follows news that youth unemployment in the Lib Dem MP’s constituency has halved since 2010.

“I am very much looking forward to this year’s event. We have a diverse range of companies attending, and I know Haringey is full of bright, ambitious young people, who will come along to meet the companies and find out more.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to kick start a career. You get paid to learn a trade, and you get a qualification at the end. You also get to make contacts within an industry, which could help secure full time work.

“Youth unemployment here has halved since 2010 – I want to work with businesses and local young people to make even more progress.”

Youth unemployment in Hornsey and Wood Green (my constituency) has fallen again! In fact, youth unemployment here has halved over the last four years – down from 7.1% in May 2010 to just 3.1% in June.

This means more and more local young people are getting into work, learning skills and earning money – which is definitely a step in the right direction.

Under the previous Labour Government, education standards fell and youth unemployment rose. Some young people got stuck in the benefits system. Labour threw endless money into this system, and they ended up trapping people, who found they would get more money being unemployed than they would in a job. This is no way to incentivise young talent into work!

When the Lib Dems entered Government in 2010, creating jobs and apprenticeships, and getting all able people back into work, was one of our top priorities.

Working with businesses, we have helped to create one million jobs since 2010, and 1.8 million apprenticeships. Employment rates are now at a record high as the economy continues to recover.

And I want to make sure we keep up in Haringey. Our young people must be aware of, and able to access, all of these opportunities.

That’s why I’m holding my second annual apprenticeship event, on the 28th August at Haringey Civic Centre. There will be companies at the event with hundreds of vacancies, which local young people can ask about and apply for.

You can also come just to find out a bit more information and ask questions.

An apprenticeship really is a great way to kick start a career. They take between one and four years to complete and combine practical training in a job with study. That means you get paid to study and learn a trade, whilst also being able to make contacts in an industry.

And you get a qualification too – an advanced level apprenticeship is equivalent to two A level passes, and others can lead to the attainment of a Foundation Degree.

Last year, the apprenticeship event was a great success – one young person was taken on the very next day! I hope we can do even better this year.

So if you are a young person, unemployed or just looking for a new challenge, do come down to the Civic Centre (High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8LE) on the 28th August between 2pm and 6pm – to meet employers and find out more!